Registration under way for 7th Annual Special Populations Golf Classic

Fund-raiser to be held Nov. 2 at Palmetto Pines

October 22, 2013

Teams and players can now register for the 7th Annual Special Populations Golf Classic.

Organized by the Guardian Angels for Special Populations, the event will take place Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Palmetto Pine Country Club, with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. Sponsored by the Cape Coral Professional Firefighters Local 2424 and G.E.C. Services, the proceeds raised will benefit Special Populations.

The event raised approximately $37,000 last year for Special Populations, which has programs and services that serve those in the local community who have intellectual and physical disabilities.

"We put the money right into the program - to better the quality of lives of the people the program serves," he said, noting that the Guardian Angels is comprised of volunteers and no one gets paid.

The tournament is a four-player team scramble. Four people can sign up as a team or people can register individually; the individual registrants will be matched up to create four-player teams.

As of Tuesday, an estimated 65 players had signed up to participate.

"The last two weeks is usually when we get the majority of our players," Marcucci said.

The goal this year and every year is to hit the maximum number of allowable players, which is 144.

"We're usually at about 120 players," he said.

The entry fee is $95 per player and includes a round of golf, a gift bag, continental breakfast and buffet lunch for each golfer, along with complimentary soda, water and snacks during play.

"Our (program) participants will be on the snack and water carts going around," Marcucci said. "That way they get to see some of our guys and talk to them."

"It really helps make a circle, a connection for the golfers - what they're playing for and where their money is going," he said.

Players also have a chance to win up to $800 in cash prizes for things like the longest drive among the men and women, straightest drive among the men and women, closest the pin and several others.

"We do have several prizes for different categories," Marcucci said.

Prizes will also be given away for teams, including for the first, second and third best scoring.

"We have a $10,000 hole-in-one prize," he said.

On some less difficult holes, a hole-in-one can win players a television or airplane tickets.

Marcucci explained that there will be a square board game, in which players can buy squares, then the winning squares are selected. Prizes include jewelry, golf packages, and hotel and restaurant deals.

The fund-raiser will also feature drawings and raffles, with items donated from local businesses like smokeless cigarettes, restaurant and hotel gift certificates, and Public and Target gift certificates.

A 50/50 cash drawing will be split between the winner and Special Populations.

"That usually amounts to about $200 or $300," he said.

Marcucci urged golfers to sign up, pointing out the great course and support for a good cause.

"When people come to play and have a good time - and it is a good time - it's a win-win," he said.

The Palmetto Pine Country Club is at 1940 S.W. Ninth Court in Cape Coral.